Patch is Cardinal Wolsey’s fool, whom he gives to King Henry as a goodwill gesture even though Patch protests this violently. After the cardinal’s death, some courtiers put on a play that mocks Wolsey and shows him being carried off to Hell, and Cromwell sees that Patch plays the part of the cardinal. Patch symbolizes the necessity of transforming oneself in order to survive a difficult situation, even though the change might seem cruel or traitorous.